A memorial to a great horse....

Has anyone every seen the movie Babe? It's a movie about farm animals (that talk) but they all have these very distinctive personalities. By the end of the movie, you are moved to tears because you are so in love with these sweet animals. Minus the talking like a human, our family had our own horse version of 'Babe'.

Hanky Panky Rhea was my mom's best friend for 25 years. She and dad bought him when they moved to Columbus, he was 2 years old. Panky passed away this past week. In fashion, Mom stopped her world for the 3 days he was sick and spent it in the pasture loving and caring for her sweet friend. I am sure these last days were precious as the memories of our mischievous horse ran through her head!

Panky's most notable feature was his blatant disgust for men. Hated them. Never met one he liked! Im not sure how he knew the difference between men and women, but if you had one of each standing side by side, he would rub his head all over the woman, turn his cheek, and bite the heck out of the man! He was a true ladies man! He could charm the socks off of any woman that met him! Our most recent episode was when the Lane's and mom tried to go horse back riding. I have a video of Powers on Panky and he is being as stubborn as a mule! He wouldn't follow Powers's lead at all, kept trying to turn back for the barn, walking heavy and sloppy. Finally, Powers gave in and traded with mom. As you can see in the pictures below, he totally relaxed and just strolled along like the lazy old horse he's always been! I have to laugh just thinking about how he always got his way!

Mom was telling me the other day about earlier memories of Panky pulling garbage bags out of the back of the truck and dragging trash all over our fields, and biting at Barry's hair when he was a wee little tyke! He was the kids horse, gentle and never wanting to move very fast. I bet mom taught two dozen kids how to ride a horse with Panky as her guide. A sight I've never seen, but rumor has it he was also one of the fastest horses we've ever had! I can hardly believe it, he was normally slow as a snail, but if mom says its true, its true!

Today for mom, I just wanted to remember a great pet, a great friend, a great teacher. He was so full of personality... im sure we will never have another one like him! He was a charmer, and you could just see the 'bad little boy' in him! We will miss Hanky Panky. He's given us years of happiness and countless stories to tell. He raised us all and we are so very sad to see him go.

God, give him a big stall up there with lots of green grass and pastures to lay in. He was our delight and we will miss him so. We love you, Panky.

3rd place ain't bad!!

Doing Life Together. One of the many foundations that Clearwater Community Church stands on. We have a great program called Life Groups where we all get together one night per week to 'do life'! It is so much fun and has given Powers and I a family. I dare not call them extended family, because they have become essential to us . They have rocked our world and we are so thankful for each of their influences over us. You've never met a more loving, open, supportive, challenging group of people in all your life! We are so grateful for them taking us in without a seconds hesitation! They have been through the ringer with us... they've listened to our woes over buying a house, caught our tears during hard times, forgiven someone's sailor mouth, taken Powers half way across the world, and gone vegetarian with us for a night! Now THAT'S commitment!

Last night was our end of the year party where all the life groups get together and just play! Here are some pictures of our great night together! Our host was awesome! There's a video at the end of Alex Trebec in full force... terrible!

Baby with the best attendance! Hudson didn't miss a chance to hang out with us! We were so lucky to all get to experience the 'first roll over' together! He is the cutest thing!! Look at 'em, just chillin!

Alex Trebek Reincarnate from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.

Vegetarians No More! Whoot!

Powers and I have been on a meat eating hiatus for the past 40 days. We've had a few slip ups, mostly unintentional ... since when does chicken ramen noodle soup count as chicken?! We decided to bring a hault to our madness on Mother's Day! Barry cooked an awesome turkey and it awoke the meat eating demon inside of us! So.... were back! Here was our first carnivorous experience... Krystal. Decidedly disappointing, but we had to document...

Mother's Day Weekend 2009

What an awesome weekend! Yay mother's day for being one of my new favorite holidays! Chuck and Booper came and spent the weekend with the Rhea's (Barry and Lauren, I promise we'll get a house soon!!)

We spent Saturday and Sunday together and had a great time! We did softball games, house shopping, LOTS of eating, church.... It was so good to have the 'rents in town!

Cutest story of the weekend (or at least in my opinion). King of the Rhea Family, Rudy, the 80 lb golden retriever, came with Mom and Dad to Bham. I was sitting on the floor petting Rudy's stomach (legs kicked straight in the air to make sure i have plenty of pettin' room) With PERFECT timing, Caden walked right up to Rudy, slapped his back paw, and yelled 'High Five'!!! Ha!

I will take my blogger author opportunity to thank my greatest ever Hubbs for making me feel like a total superstar all day! He was the sweetest thing ever! I woke up to him whispering 'happy mother's day' in my ear and it never stopped from there! Here is the note i found when I got out of the shower.... man art is the best! Sorry ladies, but I may have snagged the best guy ever. Im giving him the award! He deserves it!

Crammed in church...

Burnt Up!Our first headband experience!
Look at these cute little things!

Ball Park Pics

GO CHARLEY GO!!!!

a baton rouge addition

This was too adorable not to post! Look how cute as a button she is! She was NOT getting any closer than this to that old 'gator! I can't speak for Powers, but this is the reason Taylor doesn't live in Louisianna.

Powers Is Art

Powers's best friend Patrick Grogan is an artist. He's pretty amazing. Check out his website... www.patrickgrogan.com

Anywho, here's a table that Patrick painted in 1996..... does this look like anyone to you?

Long distance Blogging for Ella Bridges!

Powers, Ren Tin Tin, and I went to Baton Rouge this weekend to meet Ella Nicole Bridges and to hang out with her sweet parents (who didn't make the blog! Sorry guys!)

Check out this cutie pie! Those dimples are killing me! We had an awesome time visiting... thanks you guys! We cant wait to come back for a water park weekend! :)

Renny Time!!

So, to redeem myself, here is a montage of pics of our precious little one! I loved this little series below....

How lucky am I to have this cute little nugget in my life?! We had an awesome time this weekend! She is so precious to me! We did get a few pictures that resembled other people i know... see if you agree...

I dont know... maybe it's just me!

Lastly, here is our little performer. She has the escalator, stairs, and elevator down pat. This is seriously awesome! Check out the elevator watch check... that's my favorite part of the whole bit!

Pure talent.... from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.

Tootie Time

Statement. I know that the rhea/lane family blog is heavy on the rhea family, particularly two small tykes that have the same birth date. Today is even worse. I've gotten too many cute pics of the camera loving girl twin. I can't help it... she's a performer... So, this post is totally dedicated to Toots!

Loving the glow worm

"Pow Pow. Pay attention to me!!"

the spotlight from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.

I just couln't resist. I know Barry and Lauren want to kill us sometimes, but they were BEGGING for popcorn, so I just added a little something to their already perfected routine! They were cracking me up!

Nothing wrong with learning to beg properly! from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.